Our View

There’s plenty of local football action on tap this weekend.
The ninth annual Founders Federal Credit Union Kickoff Classic is set for tonight, Aug. 17, at the Reservation at Indian Land High School.
The annual scrimmage at ILHS is the only place you can see all four county high school teams in action at one place.
Andrew Jackson High School kicks off the action as the Volunteers battle the McBee Panthers at 6 p.m.

The summer of 2012 has been one to remember for shining efforts on the diamond.
That’s the glowing performances of four area teams – three banner baseball teams and a stellar softball squad.
Those teams include the Lancaster Post 31 American Legion team, the Lancaster Dixie Pre-Majors all-stars, the Lancaster Dixie Boys 13 all-stars and the Lancaster County Dixie Softball Darlings all-stars.
Each did well and produced their share of achievements.

Given recent, tragic events, we think it is time to take a look at some statistics. If these numbers don’t grab your attention, nothing will.
More than 42,000 Americans were killed in 2006, more than 41,000 in 2007, 37,000 in 2008 and about 33,000 in 2009 and 2010. That totals out to more than 185,000 lost lives in a five-year period. That is enough national deaths to wipe out the entire population of Chester County six times over. It’s understandable that people are outraged and want the government to take action, regardless of whatever rights people possess.

William C. “Pap” Lewis devoted 46 years of his life to education.
Countless lives were impacted through Lewis’ coaching and teaching at S.C. high schools.
To devote that many years had to be a labor of love for Lewis.
Coach Lewis had his share of successes, winning state titles – team and individual crowns – at every high school where he worked. Those include Wilson High of Florence, Booker T. Washington in Columbia, as well as Barr Street and Lancaster high schools here.

Sports, often regarded as the games kids play, can be cruel. In a world of what-have-you-done-lately, athletes are often judged by their latest effort. And a performance by an athlete in the twilight of his career will impact how he’s remembered.
If one wants to remember Olympic champion Shawn Crawford by his latest venture, then so be it.
Crawford, a Van Wyck native and former Indian Land star athlete, came in seventh in an eight-man race in the 200-meter finals for a spot on the U.S. track and field team at the 2012 Summer Games in London.

The United States of America will celebrate its 236th birthday today.
The midsummer holiday commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring America’s independence from Great Britain.
It is a day of celebration, from the backyard to the pool, river or the beach. Popular forms of celebration and observance include picnics, parades, cookouts, concerts, baseball games and family reunions.
Before embarking on that special celebration, we encourage you to take in the true meaning of the day.

Persistence personified can be found in the group of area youth who have pushed for a skateboard park in Lancaster County.
The group, led by Dustin Owens and his skateboard-loving followers, have frequented area government council meetings in the past year, pushing for a skateboard park.
They’ve been to city and county council meetings in hopes of a solution, but it appears they may have found their future hopes at the Kershaw Town Council.

The South Carolina Gamecocks brought home a handsome trophy from Omaha on Tuesday afternoon to a large throng of garnet and black-clad USC fans at Carolina Stadium.
It wasn’t the biggest prize the Gamecocks had hoped for, but it was a coveted trophy.
Plenty of teams would have loved to be bearing the runner-up trophy from the College World Series, and the Gamecocks were.
The two-time defending national champions had hoped to bring home another national crown for the third straight June.

To earn entry to a hall of fame is quite a feat. To have two from one area earn election to a hall is extra special. Lancaster County is quite fortunate for the latter in regards to the S.C. Firefighters Hall of Fame.
The Firefighters Hall inducted two fire chiefs from Lancaster County during its recent enshrinement at Myrtle Beach.
Retired Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Department Chief Paul Blackwelder and the late Elgin Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dennis Cauthen were inducted during the S.C. Firefighters Association Conference in Myrtle Beach on June 4-9.